Category: Public Engagement
Dogs vs. SUVs, and other silly distractions
While it’s admittedly dated in relation to internet time, this recent Upworthy post resurrects a 2009 New Scientist article comparing the environmental footprints of household pets vs. those of various vehicles. Its soundbite takeaway? Your medium-sized dog has roughly twice the footprint of a Toyota Land Cruiser.
Guess... Continue Reading
Return on No Investment
Over the weekend, I had a Twitter exchange with Mitchell Silver and Steve Mouzon about a PlaceMakers concept that I’m feeling the need to explain in more detail.
Return on No Investment – my new friend, RONI – is the whole idea of leveraging assets and connections that are already in place, while investing... Continue Reading
YIMSEO: Yes In My Sphere of Emotional Ownership
Last year about this time I wrote on the subject of NIMBYs and laid out a challenge to the NIMBY nation. It’s time to stop talking about what you don’t want, I said, and start talking about what you do want.
In short, it’s time to develop the criteria under which a Not-In-My-Back-Yarder will say yes. And to that... Continue Reading
Snagging Gen-Y: Do Facebook ads work in public engagement?
For those looking to expand public engagement and collaborative process at the community level, this week presents a curious convergence of news and ideas. Setting the stage was CNU20’s “Charrettes and the Next Generation of Public Involvement,” an afternoon breakout session exploring a fairly provocative (for... Continue Reading
Stop Making Sense: A new strategy for community outreach
Okay, I’m not confident David Byrne would be all that excited about turning an ironic subtitle from the Talking Heads’ 1984 tune into a community engagement tactic. But stay with me here.
Over the last few months, the urban planning universe has been all atwitter (literally) with concern over how “those people,”... Continue Reading
Municipal Dilemma: Get social?
Picture this scene: It’s your regularly scheduled city council meeting and the room is packed. Roughly two thirds of the audience is wearing matching red t-shirts with stickers reading “NO!” while the other third, sporting all manner of dress, displays stickers reading “YES!” There’s considerable tension in... Continue Reading
Category Back of the Envelope, Public Engagement
Public Process: Don’t botch your online engagement
If you’re a city or town, it’s a fair bet you’ve long since accepted the internet. People meet, pay bills, go shopping, research causes and self-diagnose illness online, and they expect to engage government in similarly convenient ways. You’re fine with that. In turn, you’ve responded with all the things they’ve... Continue Reading
Category Back of the Envelope, Public Engagement
Cutting Edge, All-Purpose Comp Plan: Free (conditions apply)
Pssst! You say you need a comprehensive plan? On the quick and on the cheap?
If you pay retail, it can cost you tens of thousands, maybe millions, depending upon how many layers of wonk and weasel language you layer in. And it can take years. But I can offer you the best one you’ll ever get for free and for less time... Continue Reading
The goal is not engagement. It’s disengagement.
What counts as a win in public engagement?
It’s not uncommon for municipalities -- and consultants -- to “score” engagement as though it were a contest. The most points win. And you accumulate points by counting how many: How many notices issued and media employed. How many seats filled. How many ideas collected. Continue Reading
Category Back of the Envelope, Public Engagement
Politics & Public Process: The Half-Life of Anger
Maybe it’s like the argument that given enough time, a chimp with a keyboard would eventually hammer out Hamlet, but I’m thinking the messy GOP presidential campaign is inching its way towards clarity.
Not that the process will produce outcomes extreme partisans will like. Disappointment is often the byproduct of... Continue Reading
Category Public Engagement, Public Policy